ti Otscat Pebtcaticn ot de Jnrlernational RO cAbeUEAT a] Anintlea te dor poate Vol. XXI, No. 12 #5 JUNE 18, 1953 - VANCOUVER, B.C, “GS 5c PER COPY TOP AWARD WON PUBLIC INTEREST AWARD certificate honoring The B.C. Lumber Worker for in the field of industrial safety is presented to Managing Editor George Mitchell (left) by National Safety Council Director Charles Alexander. exceptional servi ‘| riddled by the Union’s negotia- pute between the IWA and of the lumber workers. At press time the operators’ representatives were engaged in a further attempt to bolster up their case, which had been sadly tors. Conjecture is that the recom- mendations of the Board may be officially released toward the end of next week. Extensive Evidence Evidence that both parties recognize the critical nature of the proceedings was found in the care with which they presented argument and evidence, The pace was set by the IWA spokes- men who first presented a 115- page printed brief. The employers’ brief was con- tained in 65 pages to which the Union replied with another 30} pages of printed material. ‘In this, each point raised by the em- ployers was met and refuted with additional evidence, argument, and exhibits. _ Verbatim transcript was taken of the evidence heard, at the em- ployers’ request. The hearings | have been attended by an un- usually large number of promi- nent executives of the lumber corporations who have been obvi- the Coast lumber operators continued this week with the Union presenting a devas- tating rebuttal of the argument made last week by Forest Industrial Relations Ltd., opposing all the major demands ously; impressed by the thorough- ness of the Union’s research. Bullbuckers On Stand At the conclusion of the em- ployers’ presentation, a number of witnesses were placed on the stand by them, with especial ref. erence to demands affecting fall- ers and buckers. This resulted in a sharp ex- change between employers’ coun- sel, W. Heffernan, and IWA spokesman Carl Winn as through examination and cross-examina- tion they sought to establish their respective views regarding prevailing conditions. District President Joe Morris assisted in the cfoss-examination’on loggers’ problems. Members of the IWA Negotiat- ing. Committee, who have been constant in attendance to assist Spokesman. Carl Winn, are lavish in their praise of the able man- ner in which the IWA case has been presented by the Interna- . tional Secretary-Treasurer. They were equally appreciative of the brief prepared by Research Di- rectors Ed Kenney and Joe Miya- zawa, which fairly bristled with e “CHALLENGE” Page 3 Fallers, Buckers Air Grievance Over eighty fallers and buckers engaged in logging operations throughout the area from Port Renfrew to Qualicum on Vancouver Island, in the jurisdiction of | Local 1-80, IWA, assembled in Duncan, June 18, to dis- cuss their major problems with IWA Local Union and District Officers. In addition to the officers of Local 1-80, the District Council was represented by President Joe Morris, 8rd Vice-president Fred Fieber, and Organizer Harry Greene, Local 1-71. Universal Grievance General grievance® voiced by the delegates in attendance was the attempt of the operators to cut confract prices on quarters. The evidence placed before the conference was held to fully jus- tify the efforts of the District organization to demand a restor- ation of former rates. District President Morris as- sured the delegates that the whole question was under thor- ough investigation and that all channels available to the Union would be employed to secure re- dress. "The conference discussed ways and means of pressing the issue to a successful solution. WHAT'S INSIDE MEMBERS| HEAR REPORTS Plans announced earlier by the IWA District Officers to ensure adequate reporting by members of the Negotiating Committee directly to the members of IWA Local Unions haye been carried out with Success, it was announced this week. Response made by IWA mem- bers at all points has indicated an all-out and united support of the Union’s demands, now before the Conciliation Board. District President Morris was heard by the members of Local 1-118; and 1-85. Members of Local 1-217, Vancouver, heard 8rd Vice-president Fred Fieber, and Committee Secretary Walter Allen at the recent membership meeting. Committee member, “Jock” MacKenzie, visited Youbou Sub- Local 1-80, in addition to his own Local Union, 1-118, and his col- league, “Doug” Ferg, reported to the members of Local 1-367, at Mission, as well as Local 1-357, New Westminster. e His statement was supplement- ed by one from Ed Kemney, Re- search and Education Director, | who was associated with him in the argument on behalf of the | Union before the Board. Both speakers were introduced by Dis- trict President Joe Morris, who complimented them on their ca- pable and convincing presenta- tion. The International Secretary stated: “It took Research Director Ken- ney and myself 11% days to pre- sent the Union’s brief before the Board, At this time I would like to give you a general outline of the highlights of our presenta- tion. Employers Discredited We pointed out that the ar- guments used by the Employ- ers last year were completely discredited by the actual re- sults of 1952 business in this industry and that, on the other hand, the Union arguments last year were almost identical with what actually happened in the industry. We stressed the point that the Board last year said in effect that tlie Union had no case. This action caused a long strike which cost the economy of B.C. in the neighborhood of $50, million. The final industry figures for 1952 prove conclusively that the Union had the best case but the Board chose to accept the Em- Green Gold1JOh 9.15 p.m. Thursday LISTEN TO CKNW WINN WARNS UNION Confident that the IWA presentation to the Conciliation Board had successfully. refuted the opposing arguments of the lumber operators, International Secretary, Carl Winn, in a statement to the Union over the Green Gold radio program, June 11th, strongly hinted that failure to recognize the merits of the Union’s claims would | necessitate consideration of strike action. | ployers’ argument rather than ours. We contend that last year’s *| Board erred in its judgment and | we indicated to the present Board that we hoped the facts of both | this year and last year, as pre-| sented by the Union, would re- ceive proper consideration. Board Well Informed We feel quite certain that this year’s Board, led by Chairman Lynn, has the knowledge of eco- nomics necessary to bring forth a constructive recommendation for both parties to consider. Such action on their part can do much to establish a pattern that could bring industrial peace to a strife- torn labor-management relations field for the whole Province of British Columbia. ‘We pointed out the effect that integrated operations have had, is presently having, and will con- tinue to have in this industry. We spent considerable time show- ing the Board the complexities of the relationship of costs to prices. We stressed the excellent position of the industry from a business and a financial stand- point. Productivity Up We took up each Union de- mand step by step, and pre- sented our arguments. We set forth the wage pattern for the future, in our opinion, with the proposition to the Board that a 3% productivity increase on the average hourly earnings of the workers should replace the now outmoded, “cost-of-living” adjustment and that the pres- ent 9¢ cost-of-living bonus be incorporated permanently into the base rate, The Board listened attentively to our presentation and we trast they will ‘give it considerable study between now arid the time they make their recommenda- - tions. The next step, of course, is the rebuttal of each side to the other’s argument., This is sched- uled to get under way Monday morning at 10 a.m. The recommendation of the Board should be made known about this time next week. If they come out with a reason- able proposal they will have performed a real ‘service to this Province’s economy and to this industry. If not, it-will then remain for you, as mem- bers of this Union, to bring economic pressure to bear, through strike action, to ac- - complish the objectives of this year’s negotiations. We sin- cerely hope this will not be necessary but we must be ready if that is the only course left open to us after hearing the recommendations of the Board. Blues Singing There is really very little for me to tell you about the Employ- ers’ brief as we have heard it ie “WINN” Page 3 7.05 p.m. Saturday 6.15 p.m. Thursday (JAY CHALLENGED WINN DECLARES “DAY OF RECKONING NOW AT HAND” Proceedings of the Conciliation Board hearing the dis-